About

The Couples Conferences have become a leading vehicle for learning the applications of the latest research on facilitating treatment with couples. At this Conference, you will learn from leading-edge theorists and practitioners as they define, describe and discuss differing approaches that initially promote closeness and those that move toward managing difference and facilitating differentiation. By the end of this Conference, you will have advanced and refined your own thinking about how to approach the challenge of facilitating intimacy. Attendees will increase their clinical effectiveness by-

Comparing and contrasting differing professional perspectives and translating these into specific interventions

Evaluating basic principles and techniques of contemporary schools of therapy

Utilizing multi-level therapeutic communication

Comprehending the commonalities that underlie successful clinical work

Appreciating the historical development of psychotherapeutic disciplines

ELIGIBILITY:

The Couples Conference is open to professionals in health or mental health-related fields, including physicians, doctoral-level psychologists and dentists who are qualified for membership in, or are members of, their respective professional organizations (eg. AMA, APA, ADA), and to professionals with health-related graduate degrees (eg. MSW, MSN, MA or MS) from accredited institutions. Full-time graduate students in accredited programs leading to such degrees will be accepted if they supply a letter from their department on letterhead stationery, certifying their full-time status as of May 2019.

DISCLAIMER:

If the Milton H. Erickson Foundation (hereby referred to as MHEF) cannot hold the 2019 Couples Conference due to acts of nature, war, government regulations, disaster, civil disorder or curtailment of transportation facilitating other emergencies making it inadvisable, illegal, or impossible to provide the facilities or to hold the meeting, each prepaid attendee will receive a copy of the annual conference handouts and any other materials that would have been distributed. Fixed conference expenses will be paid from the pre-registration funds. Remaining funds will be refunded to pre-registrants. MHEF is not responsible for any other costs incurred by pre-registrants in connection with the annual conference.

The views and opinions expressed by presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of MHEF.

MHEF disclaims any responsibility for the use and application of information presented at this conference.

The Couples Conference is organized by The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., a federal nonprofit corporation, formed to promote and advance the contributions to the health sciences by the late Milton H. Erickson, MD. In addition to organizing congresses, workshops, Brief Therapy and Couples Conferences, the Erickson Foundation also organized eight landmark Evolution of Psychotherapy Conferences in 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 attracting more than 8,000 professionals from around the world at each conference. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, physical challenge, gender or sexual orientation.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Ellyn Bader and Dr. Peter Pearson have been helping couples resolve issues and create strong, loving relationships. Known worldwide through their pioneering work in couples therapy, they are the founders of The Couples Institute in Melo Park, California.

They are frequently invited to speak at major conferences and to conduct training in the psychological treatment of couples throughout the world. Their books on couples therapy for professionals is used in graduate schools across the country. In addition to their professional collaboration, they are marriet to each other, bringing even greater insight into the work they do. They will educate, enlighten and entertain you with the challenges they have faced as a couple, and how they overcame them to build a strong marriage.

Ellyn and Peter have been featured on over 50 radio shows and on television including “The Today Show” and “CBS Early Morning News.” The Bader-Pearson approach is known for its practical applications that help partners create enduring love.